Members of the YFCU displayed their skills at the Association’s Annual Sheep Shearing and Wool Handling competitions that took place on the Wednesday morning of the Balmoral Show 2023.
The competition was sponsored by Ulster Wool Marketing Board (UWMB), The Northern Ireland Sheep Shearers Association (NISSA) and Lister Shearing Equipment Limited. The Sheep Shearing competition consisted of two sections – Novice and Advanced, whereas the Wool Handling competition only consists of one.
Firstly in the novice competition, Dean Laughlin from Newtownstewart YFC was named the winner and received the James Gilpin Perpetual Cup. Luke Norris from Coleraine YFC took second place, and Frazer Caldwell from Clanabogan YFC took third place.
Following this, Madison Rafferty, Spa YFC, took home first in the Wool Handling competition. Fianna Butler, Kilraughts YFC was second placed and Nicholas Dennison, Hillhall YFC was third.
It was then the turn of the experienced shearers to show their craft at its best in the YFCU advanced Sheep Shearing competition. Competitors sweated it out in a tough contest with the top scorers making it through to the final.
In the final, Andrea Rea, Straid YFC, secured the top place and was presented with Lister Silver Handpiece Perpetual Challenge Trophy & commemorative engraved medallion supplied by Lister Shearing. Second place went to Matthew Cowan, Gleno Valley YFC, and third place went to Iain Wilson, Gleno Valley YFC.
The YFCU would like to thank the Northern Ireland Sheep Shearers Association (NISSA), Ulster Wool Marketing Board (UWMB), and Lister Shearing Equipment Limited for their continuous support of the annual YFCU sheep shearing competition. We extend our thanks to the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society's sheep shearing committee for ensuring the competition's smooth and successful execution on the day.
